Transcript: Sebelius, Pawlenty

Wednesday night was the 122nd presidential public utterance on
health care. Fourteen hours later, Thursday morning, he gave the
123rd; yesterday, in Minnesota, the 124th.

Incessant talk by him cannot cure what incessant talk by him has
caused, which is a yawning credibility gap.

Mitch McConnell told me on Friday -- he's been in the Senate 25
years -- never have Republicans polled close to Democrats on which
party to trust most on health care until now, and it's...

(CROSSTALK)

DONALDSON: George, you're wrong. It's not incessant talk by him
that has caused this. It is a lack of talk by him when it might have
counted. The speech the other night should have been given in May.
He should have gotten started early, making the case against people
who said, well, there are death panels and this, that and the other.
He didn't. He wasted the summer, in my view. And so, now, he's
paying the piper.
BROOKS: But it's not the talk; it's the substance that I think
was the most important thing of the week. He actually did move a few
things.
He made the firm promise, no new dime to the deficits -- probably
an unkeepable promise, but a very firm promise.

He basically killed the public plan without really saying so. He
raised the possibility of creating a -- of capping the tax exemption
on employee health benefits, which moderates like.
He raised the issue of tort reform, which people are...

(CROSSTALK)

BROOKS: And he hinted more -- it's an invitation to amendments.
ROBERTS: Right.

BROOKS: And so the Blue Dogs I talked to Thursday morning were
ecstatic. The liberals were ecstatic Thursday morning until they
realized, by Thursday, he'd stuck the knife...

(CROSSTALK)

STEPHANOPOULOS: Except that, Cokie, I think -- you know, one of
the points -- I think David's right about the substance, but one of
the things the progressives, the liberals took away from this -- his
passion made them feel good and made it so they could get something
done.

ROBERTS: Well, that something would get done, period. And, of
course, that's where we are is just getting something done. His
presidency is on the line if he doesn't get something done. And as he
said, or apparently will say tonight, "If this bill passes, I own it."
So, it's very important...

STEPHANOPOULOS: Since you brought it up, let's show it. Because
we have the president here. He's going to be on "60 Minutes" tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I intend to be president for a while. And once this bill
passes, I own it. And if people look and say, you know what, this
hasn't reduced my costs; my premiums are still going up 25 percent;
insurance companies are still jerking me around, I'm the one who's
going to be held responsible. So I have every incentive to get this
right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)

DONALDSON: But, George, the good part would click in
immediately. The tough part wouldn't come until after his re-election
campaign.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But...